Northwest Territories - The Canadian Encyclopedia Provinces & Territories Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories lie northwest of central Canada, bordered to the east by Nunavut, to the west by the Yukon and to the south by the northeastern corner of British Columbia, as well as the entire northern borders of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Northwest Territories lie northwest of central Canada, bordered to the east by Nunavut , to the west by the Yukon and to the south by the northeastern corner of British Columbia , as well as the entire northern borders of Alberta and Saskatchewan . The name was originally applied to the territory acquired in 1870 from the Hudson's Bay Company and Great Britain: Rupert’s Land and the North-Western Territory. In 1880 Great Britain also transferred to Canada the arctic islands, north of the mainland, thereby adding to the territories. The acquisition of the NWT was a major component of the Canadian government’s desire, led by Sir John A. MacDonald , to construct a British nation in North America and to guard against the potential incursion of American settlers. Land and Resources The NWT includes three main regions: the Arctic Archipelago to the north, the arctic mainland and the Mackenzie Valley area.

The arctic mainland, sometimes referred to as the Barren Lands, lies northeast of the treeline, and the Mackenzie Valley area to the west. Arctic Archipelago The Arctic Archipelago — the world’s second largest high arctic land area — consists of 94 major islands, some of which are included in the NWT. Banks Island , the northeastern part of Victoria Island , the western part of Melville Island and the Parry Islands lie within the territories' border. Ice never disappears from the northwestern-most islands and covers all the surrounding seas for much of the year, severely limiting navigation. The southeast sector of the Archipelago is not as cold, however, because of its proximity to the open waters of the North Atlantic, and with its higher elevation, it receives higher precipitation than elsewhere in the Arctic, which overall is among the driest areas of Canada. The Archipelago differs from the other two regions of the NWT in that summers remain cool, averaging only 10°C in July over most of the area because of the surrounding cold waters. The great contrast between the long days of summer and the short (even nonexistent) days of winter reflects the high latitude.

Severe climate and permafrost result in very poor soil development. Vegetation is tundra, varying from low bush to grass, but even this limited vegetation is lacking in certain areas. The territories' first national park, Aulavik , was established in the Archipelago on Banks Island in 1992. Arctic Mainland The Canadian Shield makes up the arctic mainland. Canada's oldest rocks (3.96 billion years) were found east of Great Bear Lake . Pleistocene ice sheets polished its surface, stripping away surface material down to the bedrock. In places boulders, sands and gravels remain from the melting ice. Overall it is a gently undulating rocky surface of low elevation, with a bewildering maze of rivers and irregular lakes. As in the Archipelago, true soil is generally absent. Vegetation is the tundra type, usually including considerable shrubs. In sheltered places, as along inland water courses, stunted trees may extend out from the forested lands on the south and west.

Climatically, as well as in location, the arctic mainland lies between the Arctic Archipelago and the Mackenzie Valley, with more severe winter temperatures and higher summer temperatures than the former because of its continental location. Baker Lake, for example, west of Hudson Bay , has an average daily high of -27°C in January and 16°C July, with a mean total precipitation of 268 mm. Mackenzie Valley Area Geologically this area ranges from the Canadian Shield on its eastern margin through younger Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary formations in sequence to the west. Great Bear Lake (31,328 km2) and Great Slave Lake (28,568 km2) lie along the contact line of the Shield, which here often exceeds 300 m of relief. This vegetation division corresponds to a cultural division of the area’s Aboriginal peoples, with the Inuit occupying the Arctic and the Dene, the Subarctic. The greater economic development and larger population of the subarctic Mackenzie Valley also sets it apart from the arctic mainland.

Much of the Mackenzie Valley area consists of the narrowing northward extent of the level continental Interior Plains, with occasional level-bedded hill areas a few hundred metres above the general surface. In the west it rises abruptly into the mountainous terrain of the rugged Cordillera region with peaks of over 2,700 m. The area is integrated by the Mackenzie River and its tributaries, whose total drainage area (1.8 million km2) and system length (4,241 km) are the largest and longest in Canada. Only the northernmost part of the area falls within the continuous permafrost zone, unlike the other two regions of the NWT. Almost the entire territory falls within the discontinuous zone where permafrost is widespread if not universal. The upper Mackenzie Valley lies within the boreal forest transitional zone, where spruce and larch are common. The lower Mackenzie Valley is within the Northern boreal woodland area, which has a great number of tree species including white birch , jack pine , balsam fir and trembling aspen . Extensive areas of poor drainage occur, especially on the plains, as a result of permafrost and continental glaciation.

These result in string bogs and muskeg . Temperature ranges are greater in the Mackenzie Valley than in the other two regions. At Fort Good Hope, for example, the average daily high is -25°C in January and 21°C in July. Precipitation, including snowfall, is significantly higher than for most of the Arctic. Wood Buffalo National Park , straddling the Alberta boundary, is Canada's largest national park (44,802 km2). It was established in 1922 to protect the only herd of wood bison in their wild state, and also contains several thousand plains bison and the summer nesting grounds of the nearly extinct whooping crane . People A northward extension of the fur trade led to the first non-Aboriginal presence in the NWT in the late 18th and early 19th centuries as posts were established down the Mackenzie Valley. Missions arrived in the latter part of the 19th century, and the RCMP and other representatives of the federal government in the 20th century.

However, there had been a police presence in the Northwest Territories for much longer, including the founding of the North West Mounted Police in 1873 to combat the perceived lawlessness of the region. The overall policy of the government by its increasing presence in the NWT was to “tame” this frontier civilization, including integrating the Aboriginal population. Mineral and transportation developments in the 1930s marked the beginning of a more significant non-Aboriginal influx. In the arctic regions, the remoteness made access more difficult, and fur trade posts were not established there until the 20th century. Permanent settlements were not established in the Queen Elizabeth Islands until after the First World War. The population of the territory in 2012 was 43,300, compared to 37,360 in 2001. Statistics Canada notes that this increase in population is likely due to improved information gathering for NWT, rather than actual population growth. Because of the small total population, external policy and economic conditions have significant impact on NWT’s growth rate.

Growth has been erratic since 1966, reflecting the administrative transfer from Ottawa to Yellowknife, the ceding of territory for the creation of Nunavut in 1999 and the fluctuating interest in mineral resource development. The birth rate remains one of the highest in Canada, however (about 1.97 children per woman), which creates pressure for employment. Urban Centres The most populous of the small urban centres in the Northwest Territories are located in the Mackenzie Valley area, with Yellowknife , the capital, being the largest city. It began as a gold mining centre and became the territorial capital in 1967. While most of the settlements in the NWT are significantly smaller than Yellowknife, they are important for various reasons. Fort Smith , for example, was the major administrative centre prior to Yellowknife becoming the capital, and remains central to the region. Hay River is a transportation and fishing centre. Behchokò is the largest Dene community in the NWT and an administrative hub for the Dogrib people; while Inuvik is the major administrative and transportation centre for the western Arctic.

Fort Simpson , once the centre of the fur trade, is located at the confluence of the Liard and Mackenzie rivers. Labour Force In 2006, there were about 23, 445 employed people in the NWT, most whom had jobs in the service sector and namely in public administration (22 per cent), retail (9 per cent) and health services (9 per cent). Within the goods producing sector, mining and construction were the largest employers, each accounting for about 7 per cent of the employed residents. Language and Ethnicity Aboriginal people represent approximately half of the population of the NWT. There are three main communities making up the larger Aboriginal population: the Dene, Inuit/Inuvialuit and Métis . Within the Dene community are smaller tribal groupings, namely the Chipewyan , Dogrib, Yellowknives, South Slavey , North Slavey, Gwich'in and Sahtu Dene.

There are 11 official languages spoken in the Northwest Territories: Chipewyan, Cree , English, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho History Before Europeans arrived and began to engage in trade with the Aboriginal population of what is now known as the NWT, the area was populated by small groups of Aboriginal peoples (such as Inuit and Dene). These groups — the Inuit often being nomadic and located in far northern areas — had lived for generations in the harsh climatic conditions of the region, supporting themselves through hunting and fishing. These traditional lifestyles were altered with the arrival of European settlers and traders, but Aboriginal peoples never disappeared from the territory. Exploration The first known European explorers to visit today's NWT were the Vikings, who sailed to the Eastern Arctic from their Greenland settlements (ca. 1000 CE). In 1576 Martin Frobisher was the first of a series of European explorers seeking the Northwest Passage , but, by the early 16th century, the severe ice conditions and the limitations of the ships checked much farther advance.

In 1770–71 Samuel Hearne of the Hudson Bay Company made a remarkable overland trip from Churchill through the arctic mainland to the Coppermine River . Though the company used the Hudson Bay route, its interests were farther inland on the continent. Alexander MacKenzie of the North West Company pushed north from Fort Chipewyan on Lake Athabasca in 1789 to follow what became known as the Mackenzie River to its mouth. Fur trade posts were soon established along his route and in tributary areas, and were subsequently taken over by the Hudson’s Bay Company . Later exploration in the Arctic Archipelago focused on a renewed search for a Northwest Passage in the first part of the 19th century, and on attempts to reach the geographic North Pole in the latter part, a journey finally completed by the American R.E. Peary in 1909. The disappearance of Sir John Franklin 's 1845 expedition led to the addition of much map information by the search expeditions and included the traverse of the elusive passage in 1853 by Sir Robert McClure (though the first traverse by ship was in 1903–04 by Roald Amundsen ).

Later British and American expeditions proceeding up the eastern coast of Ellesmere Island explored the eastern Queen Elizabeth Islands. The Norwegian explorer Otto Sverdrup discovered most of the remaining islands to the northwest at the turn of the 20th century, with Vilhjalmur Stefansson completing discoveries between 1913 and 1918. Settlement When the NWT was acquired by the Canadian government in 1870, there was already a population of 150,000 Aboriginal people living there. The fur trade posts provided the only nuclei of non-Aboriginal settlement in the NWT until relatively recently. Missions were established near the posts along the Mackenzie River in the latter part of the 19th century. Pressure from Anglo-Canadians, along with the shifting patterns of game due to increased development, forced many Métis farther north throughout the 1870s and 1880, and after the Red River Rebellion led by Louis Riel in 1869–70.

This displacement, and the anger produced by the government’s failure to take into account First Nations and Métis voices in government, led to the failed Northwest Rebellion of 1885, the hanging of Riel and the resettlement of many people into northern Canada. (See also Northwest Territories and Confederation .) The federal presence was represented in these small settlements after the turn of the century by the RCMP, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals radio stations and by other agencies. Strategic water transportation sites, such as Fort Smith and Tuktoyaktuk , provided other attractions for limited settlement. Because of its easier accessibility and more varied resources, more incomers trickled into the Mackenzie Valley than the Arctic. In 1921 the federal government also signed its last numbered treaty, Treaty 11, with the Aboriginal peoples north of Great Slave Lake. Treaty 11 was spurred by the enthusiasm caused by the discovery of oil at Fort Norman in 1920. The government sent a treaty commission to the Lower Mackenzie River valley to open the territory for easier, further resource exploration.

As with the other numbered treaties, Treaty 11 guaranteed certain rights, such as Aboriginal hunting and trapping rights, yet the federal government often ignored these rights and interpreted them as being subject to government regulation. Beginning in the 1930s mineral exploration aided by bush pilots and their improved aircraft, along with more European hunters, resulted in a significant influx of newcomers, even into the Arctic mainland. The interwar years saw the rise of disease and the decline of traditional ways of life among the Aboriginal populations as the new mining industry brought settlers to the region. The availability of hunting game was disrupted, coinciding with a decline in federal funding to the NWT during the Great Depression. Development In recent decades major change and development in the NWT have resulted from international and national political events, widespread social change, large-scale resource demands and the availability of improved technology. As early as the Second World War , the impact of international hostilities was felt in Mackenzie Valley settlements through the Canol Pipeline and in the southern part of the Eastern Arctic through the North East Staging Route airports.

The Cold War resulted in DEW line radar stations (see Early Warning Radar ) being built across the Arctic and contributed to the introduction of the first permanent settlements in the Queen Elizabeth Islands as part of the Joint Arctic Weather Stations project (see High Arctic Weather Stations ). Following the Second World War, economic conditions in the NWT began to deteriorate as fur prices declined and the Hudson’s Bay Company began closing posts. Inuit communities began living around military stations for security and access to resources. The conditions were miserable. The government’s response was to relocate the Inuit to best suit their administrative needs, and to facilitate the delivery of services. This process significantly disrupted kinship bonds and furthered the decline of traditional game hunting. In some cases, the Inuit who were chosen to be relocated were deceived by the government with regard to families being kept intact and where they were going to be resettled. In recent years, the Inuit in this area have begun to demand recognition of their unique role in the protection of Canadian sovereignty. In 1953, the federal government assumed increased responsibility for the territory with the creation of the Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources (now the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development ).

Major improvements were made in health services, housing, education facilities and communications to bring them more in line with those of southern Canada. More recently much of this responsibility has been delegated to the territorial government. Government services are now more numerous throughout northern settlements and occasionally provide the greatest source of local employment. As a result, most northern residents now live in permanent settlements for most of the year. The demand for minerals and fuels, along with improvements in mining and transportation technology, has made northern resources economically attractive and resource development provides employment. On the other hand, resource development promotes an unpredictable economy and further threatens the Aboriginal communities’ traditional way of life. Economy Primary resource extraction is the foundation of the NWT economy. Furs, the original base, are now of much less importance. Commercial whaling disappeared early in the 20th century. From the 1930s, minerals have become the most important economic base for the NWT, with all other economic activities except the service industry far behind. Agriculture Agriculture is of negligible significance in the NWT. In the years after the First World War, there were small attempts at agriculture such as mission and hospital gardens as well as teaching Aboriginal children farming techniques believed to be superior to their traditional way of life.

These efforts, combined with the desire to provide land for returning soldiers, all encouraged the Canadian government to expand further north. Though brief these efforts did have long-term effects on the northern environment through the clearing of land and introduction of new grasses and plants. Ultimately, however, small markets, summer drought and limited good soils create serious obstacles to agriculture in the NWT. Improved transportation often makes it cheaper to bring in agricultural products from the south. Today, only a few market gardens operate in the Hay River valley. Mining Mining is an integral part of the NWT economy. Over the years, the focus of mining in the region has moved from base and precious metals (such as uranium , gold , lead and zinc ) to primarily diamonds . For example, diamonds at Lac de Gras, 300 km north of Yellowknife, attracted much attention in the 1990s. The discovery of the first Kimberlite pipe — a type of cone-shaped rock often containing diamonds — in 1990 resulted in one of the world's largest rushes into the area the following year. There are four mines currently operating in the NWT, three of which produce diamonds and one that produces tungsten.

The total value of mineral production in the NWT grew to over $2 billion in 2010 from about $6.8 million in 2000, a nearly 200 per cent increase. Two of the diamond-producing mines opened during this 10-year period, accounting in large part for the increase in production value. Mining employs about 3,000 people, or about 14 per cent of the work force of the territories, and provides significant employment in related service activities such as mining exploration. Energy Heating is a major cost for northerners, given the long, severe winters and the transportation costs. Energy needs for most settlements are provided by fuel oil and thermal power generation. In most of the territory hydro power is nonexistent. The potential hydropower resources of the NWT has been estimated at about 2,473 megawatts (MW), most of which is within the Mackenzie Valley area.

(By comparison, the installed capacity of hydropower operations in Québec, one the largest producers of hydropower in Canada, was 35,829 MW in 2012.) The series of rapids on the Slave River near the Alberta boundary has attracted attention for possible hydroelectric power generation, but such a project would have serious repercussions for wildlife and wildlife habitat. Three hydro plants are currently in operation: the Snare Hydro System, the Bluefish Hydro Facility and Taltson Hydro. Electricity in the region is provided by three companies: Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC), Northland Utilities Enterprises Ltd. (NUL) and Imperial Oil Ltd., which sells natural gas to NTPC for distribution in Norman Wells, an oil field in the NWT. Natural gas is produced in three locations: Norman Wells, Inuvik (Ikhil) and Cameron Hills, while oil is produced in Norman Wells and Cameron Hills. There is an ongoing search for additional sources of oil and natural gas in the NWT. In the 1970s, many expressed concern for environmental disruption caused by pipeline projects in the Mackenzie Valley and the Arctic.

The MacKenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry resulted in the project’s delay until Aboriginal land claims and environmental issues were resolved. Similarly, in 1995, offshore exploration resumed following the lifting of a 25-year right issuance moratorium, put in place pending the resolution of land claims. Land claims remain an important issue in the face of ongoing resource development. Hunting, Fishing and Trapping The greatest single natural resource of the region for Aboriginal peoples has been the migratory barren land caribou , which swarmed in enormous herds to summer in this region. In the 20th century, caribou numbers fluctuated dramatically because of changes in hunting pressure and wolf abundance. Declines had serious repercussions for local residents here, resulting in the movement of the Caribou Inuit of the Ennadai Lake area to communities on the west coast of Hudson Bay in Nunavut. By 1985, caribou numbers were again large and most herds were increasing. Marine animals (e.g., whales , seals , fish) have also traditionally supported the Inuit, along with trapping (arctic fox) in the first half of the 20th century.

Commercial WHALING by non-Aboriginal peoples almost exterminated whales by around 1910, and limited hunting by Aboriginal communities continues (e.g., in the Mackenzie Delta). Polar bear skins and fox pelts still provide some income for the Inuit Many of the people living in smaller communities continue to earn at least part of their living by hunting, trapping and fishing. In 2008, 39 per cent of people over the age of 15 hunted or fished in the NWT, including 45 per cent of the Aboriginal population. Six per cent participated in trapping. In addition to the fur value obtained from hunting ($830,900 in 2009), meat is a major item in the local diet. Since 1974 the territorial government assists those wishing to make a living off the land through various harvest assistance programs. The commercial fishery operates primarily out of Great Slave Lake. Whitefish is the most important catch, though pickerel and lake trout are also harvested. Tourism Tourism provides increasing economic benefits to the NWT, with visitors arriving by road via the Mackenzie Highway system and the Dempster Highway in the west.

Fly-in sport fishing lodges and wilderness camps are served out of Yellowknife and Fort Smith among others. The five national parks in the NWT — Aulavik, Nááts’ihch’oh, Nahanni, Tuktut Nogait and Wood Buffalo — attract visitors despite their distance from southern Canada. Both Nahanni and Wood Buffalo are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Arts and Crafts Inuit prints and sculpture have established an international reputation and are a major source of employment. In 2008, about nine per cent of the population over the age of 15 of the NWT produced arts and crafts, including large percentages of the population of the small Aboriginal communities of Kakisa and Trout River (about 40 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively). Transportation Transportation in the NWT must cope with enormous distances, severe climatic conditions and the small, scattered population. It is remarkable that the NWT is so well-served, and the high costs can be appreciated. Commercial water transportation still operates during the summer on the Mackenzie.

A modern diesel tug and barge fleet is based at Hay River, with a secondary base at the mouth of the Mackenzie at Tuktoyaktuk , the only reliably sheltered harbour on the shallow western coast. The coastal communities from Tuktoyaktuk eastwards as far as the Boothia Peninsula are served by tug and dual-purpose barge, though often the short ice-free season may restrict such service to a single call. Eastern Arctic communities are served by vessels operating out of Churchill , Montréal and Halifax , with regular annual visits as far north as Resolute but including some icebreaker escorted trips to Winter Harbour on Melville Peninsula. Since the Second World War a limited road network has been extended northwards into the Mackenzie Valley. Highways are mainly all-weather gravel roads and include several important river ferry links. The Mackenzie and Yellowknife highways link Hay River and Yellowknife to the road system of northwestern Alberta. Extensions from Hay River tie in Fort Resolution and Fort Smith. This extension is the only road access to Wood Buffalo National Park. A northward extension down the Mackenzie Valley ends at Wrigley, north of Fort Simpson.

The Liard Highway, opened in 1984, ties Fort Simpson to Fort Liard and to the Alaska Highway . Inuvik and other Mackenzie Delta communities are now linked to Dawson, YT, by the Dempster Highway , making it almost possible to reach the shores of the Arctic Ocean by road. The Deh Cho Bridge, across the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence, opened on 30 November 2012, and is designed to lower the reliance of the surrounding areas, especially the North Slave Region, on ferries. The bridge will also hopefully allow for year-round commercial activities as opposed to the strictly seasonal trends of previous years. Winter roads exist seasonally over frozen lakes to many isolated communities and mines. Ice crossings have to be reconstructed annually and are only operational for about three to four months per year. The former Great Slave Lake Railway, now a branch of CN 's Peace River Division, extends 696 km north from Grimshaw, AB to Hay River and is the only railway in the NWT. The railway also led to Hay River's development as the major river transportation centre because of its transhipment advantages, and displaced the earlier all-water Slave River route via Fort McMurray, AB.

Aircraft often are the only practical method of transportation in the NWT, particularly in the Arctic. Airfields serve most NWT communities with populations over 100. Regularly scheduled airline service is provided from southern Canadian cities into the larger communities as far north as Resolute. Government and Politics Territorial Government From 1905, when the areas which became Alberta and Saskatchewan were granted provincial status and subsequently ceded from the NWT, until after the Second World War, the government of the NWT was carried on by an appointed commissioner and council, composed entirely of senior civil servants based in Ottawa. Beginning in 1951, elected members were gradually added to the previously all-appointed council until it became a fully elected body in 1974. In the time leading up to this change, the commissioner was a deputy minister in the federal department in charge of the administration of the Yukon Territory and the NWT in addition to other major responsibilities. In 1966, the federal government created federal electoral constituencies in parts of the Northwest Territories. In 1967 the seat of territorial government was moved to Yellowknife and the commissioner relocated there with the nucleus of what has become a territorial public service.

Today, the federal Northwest Territories Act contains a written constitution and defines the powers of the territorial government. There are no political parties in the territory. The territorial assembly consists of 19 members, elected by people in the constituencies. Following an election, members choose from amongst themselves one person to serve as premier and another as speaker. Though no longer the leader of the government, the commissioner remains as the federal government’s representative in the NWT, appointed by the minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and acting as chief executive officer. The commissioner role is akin to that of a provincial lieutenant governor. While the Legislative Assembly of the NWT acts, for the most part, as a provincial legislature would, it does not have the same level of control. Only federal government, for example, can amend the NWT Act. The NWT also relies heavily on federal transfers. In 2012–13, for example, federal transfers accounted for 73 per cent of the territorial government’s revenue, second only to Nunavut (82 per cent) and similar to the Yukon (72 per cent).

For comparison, during the same year, federal transfers accounted for 34 per cent of PEI 's revenue, making it the province relying the most on the federal government, but still far less dependent than the territories. The discussion around separating what is now Nunavut from the NWT began as early as the 1950s, and stemmed from a desire on the part of the people of Nunavut — who are primarily Inuit — to have a territory and a government of their own. Finally, in 1981, the territorial government held a plebiscite and the majority voted in favour of dividing the NWT. The separation — and creation of Nunavut — wasn’t finalized until 1999. Land claim and self-government agreements have always been major issues for the territorial government. To date, three land claim agreements have been signed: the Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984), the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1992), and the Sahtu Dene and Métis Comprehensive Land Claim (1993).

In addition, one combined land claim and self-government treaty has been signed (the Tłįchǫ Agreement, 2003) as well as one land entitlement: the Salt River First Nation Treaty Settlement Agreement (2002). Yellowknife, Capital of the Northwest Territories Yellowknife, Capital of the Northwest Territories Key Facts About Yellowknife, the Capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada Yellowknife City Hall. All Canada Photos / Getty Images Updated: 12/30/2014 About the City of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife is the capital city of the Northwest Territories , Canada. Yellowknife is also the only city in the Northwest Territories. A small, culturally diverse city in the far north of Canada, Yellowknife combines all the urban amenities with memories of the old gold prospecting days. Gold and government administration were the mainstays of Yellowknife's economy until the late 1990s, when the fall of gold prices led to the closure of the two main gold companies and the creation of the new territory of Nunavut meant the transfer out of a third of government employees.

The discovery of diamonds in the Northwest Territories in 1991 came to the rescue, and diamond mining, cutting, polishing and selling became major activities for Yellowknife residents. While winters in Yellowknife are cold and dark, long summer days with plenty of sunshine make Yellowknife a magnet for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. Location of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife is located on the north shore of Great Slave Lake, on the west side of Yellowknife Bay near the outlet of the Yellowknife River. Yellowknife is about 512 km (318 miles) south of the Arctic Circle. Area of City of Yellowknife 105.44 sq. km (40.71 sq. miles) (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Population of City of Yellowknife 19,234 (Statistics Canada, 2011 Census) Date Yellowknife Became the Capital of the Northwest Territories 1967 Date Yellowknife Incorporated as a City 1970 Government of City of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife municipal elections are held every three years, on the third Monday in October.

Date of the last Yellowknife municipal election: Monday October 15, 2012 Date of the next Yellowknife municipal election: Monday October 19, 2015 Yellowknife's city council is made up of 9 elected representatives: one mayor and 8 city councillors. Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals | Natural Resources Canada Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals Origin of the names of Canada’s provincial and territorial capitals Whitehorse, Yukon Ottawa, Canada The name Ottawa is derived from the Algonquin word “adawe”, which means “to trade”. The settlement was originally incorporated as Bytown in 1850. The name was changed to Ottawa in 1855. (Sources: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base, Geographical Names Board 18th Report) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Ottawa St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador There is some disagreement regarding the history behind how St. John’s acquired its name. The most widely accepted explanation comes from the Portuguese explorer Gaspar Corte-Real, who recorded the area as Rio de San Johem in 1519.

The earliest recording of the modern day spelling came from an English merchant who travelled to Newfoundland in the 1570’s. Geographical name search results: Toronto Winnipeg, Manitoba The Cree named the lake to the north “Win” (muddy) and “nipee” (water). In 1873, Winnipeg was incorporated as a city. (Source: City of Winnipeg ) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Winnipeg Regina, Saskatchewan Cree hunters stacked buffalo bones in the area of Regina, and named it Oskana-Ka-asateki or "the place where bones are piled." Early explorers, fur traders and settlers called the area “Pile of Bones.” It was decided in 1882 when the town began to grow that it required a more regal name. Princess Louise suggested that the town be named Regina in honour of her mother and the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria. Geographical name search results: Iqaluit Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Yellowknife acquired its name from the aboriginal group known as the “T'atsaot'ine”, or “Yellowknives”. It became the capital of the Northwest Territories in 1967.

Known for its valuable minerals, it has the traditional name of Smbak'è, which means money place. (Source: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base) Find out more: Geographical name search results: Yellowknife Whitehorse, Yukon Originally called White Horse, the name came from the foam in nearby rapids on the Yukon River which looked similar to the manes on white horses. Whitehorse was incorporated as a city in 1950, and replaced Dawson as the capital of the Yukon in 1953. (Sources: Canadian Geographical Names Data Base) Find out more: Northwest Territories Map / Geography of Northwest Territories / Map of Northwest Territories - Worldatlas.com Northwest Territories Description Northwest Territories History Originally known as the North-western Territories, this Canadian territory was first created in June 1870, when the Hudson's Bay Company ceded Rupert's Land and North-western Territories to the government of Canada. Since the transfer, the area has been whittled down with the designation of land to the Canadian provinces . In 1876, the district of Keewatin was separated from the North-western Territories.

In the 1880's what was left of the territory was divided into districts, including Mackenzie and Franklin. Keewatin was returned to the territories in 1905. The North-western Territories were not represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1907 until 1947, when the district of Mackenzie received representation. The rest of the territories were granted representation in 1962, in recognition of the Inuit people's suffrage in 1953. This area was officially renamed the Northwest Territories in 1912. From 1925 to 1999, this mass of land measured larger than India, until the eastern three-fifths of the territories was separated into the Nunavut territory. Since the separation in 1999, there has been some debate about whether to change the name of the territory. Northwestern Land and Culture They may be far north, but the Northwest Territories can boast a slightly warmer climate overall than the arctic Nunavut territory, and are mostly made up of boreal forest.

Many of the Northwest Territories people are natives, like the Inuit people, but fur trading, mineral and transportation industries brought in an influx of non-natives by the 1930s. Minerals make up the most important economic base in the Northwest Territories. The region's capital, Yellowknife , is known as the "Diamond Capital," named after one of the main exports. Gold and silver are regularly mined in the territories as well. The year 1970 marked the start of the Arctic Winter Games, which take place every two years. Competitors come from all over the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon , Alaska and northern Alberta . Games include cross-country skiing, figure skating, hockey, speed skating and snowboarding. CITY ATTRACTIONS & MAPS: Yellowknife travel, tourism and adventure Search Yellowknife Travel, Tourism, Adventure Yellowknife is the capital city of the Northwest Territory, Canada. Located north of the 60th parallel, it is the land of the "Midnight Sun" in the summer while "Northern Lights" dance across the sky in the winter. Yellowknife is situated on the northern shores of Great Slave Lake and at the end of the Frontier Highway (Hwy #4).

It is a transportation, commercial, government and recreation centre of the "Northern Frontier" servicing the entire Northwest Territory region. There is industry, business and adventure located throughout the Yellowknife region. Diamond mines are big industry. Tourism is big adventure. Both attract travelers to the `Diamond Capital of North America`. The streets of downtown Yellowknife are a mixture of the past and present. Many of the streets are named after early pioneers, fur traders and entrepreneurs. There are older buildings mixed in with modern high rise buildings up and down the main streets of the city. For more heritage, many of the buildings with history are in the section of Yellowknife called "Old Town". "Old Town" is home to floatplane bases, historic buildings, boats and docks. Some of the highlights ofthe area include the Pilots Monument, "Ragged Ass Road" and Wildcat Cafe. Wildcat Cafe is an old fashion pioneer restaurant first built in 1937 to service the prospectors, trappers and bush pilots. Today , it is a United Nations World Heritage Site serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from May to September.

Some of the summer activities enjoyed in the Yellowknife region include canoeing, hiking, kayaking, swimming, birdwatching, fishing, boating, flightseeing, backpacking, water skiing, off roading, river rafting, golfing and sailing. A popular area to explore for adventure with lakes, rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails and parks is Ingraham Trail. During the winter months, the snow flies, the temperatures drop, lakes and rivers freeze over and the Northern lIghts light up the sky. It is magical time for winter activities. Some of the the activities enjoyed in the Yellowknife area include aurora borealis sightseeing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, ice fishing and dog sledding. The Arctic Tundra, Great Slave Lake, the Canadian Shield, the Barrenlands are all special places with special wildlife accustomed to harsh winter climates. Wildlife sightings may include caribou, Dall sheep, moose, grizzlies, wolves, bison, muskox, porcupine, beaver, gyrfalcon, wolverine, polar & black bear just to name a few. eh! Plan to Visit Yellowknife, N.W.T. today.

Top Destinations in Northwest Territories | Attractions Canada Northwest-Territories Northwest Territories: “Land of the Midnight Sun" Northwest Territories account for over two- million square kilometres of mountains, forests and tundra highlighted by hundreds of clean rivers and thousands of pristine lakes. Visitors come to view rare wildlife species from white wolves to white whales. In the distance herds of bison, prowling bears, moose and caribou can be heard roaming the frozen tundra. While wildlife viewing opportunities are legendary in the Northwest Territories , Nahanni National Park has also become a popular tourist attraction. Here you can gear up for some canoeing, hiking, snowmobiling and/or dog sledding. Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, is the main city centre for the region, and is the perfect starting point for your adventures. Two of the biggest attractions in northern Canada are the long summer days of the “Midnight Sun,” and the aurora borealis or Northern Lights that can be seen in the night sky from late August until January. A fiercely proud people, residents of the Northwest Territories encourage tourism, welcoming visitors with open arms, eager to display their native hand crafted arts, and tell the stories of their rich history.

Fast Facts Size: 1,346,106 sq. km. (519,734 sq. mil.) Capital City: Yellowknife

Question: What is the capital of the Northwest Territories, Canada?
Answer: Yellowknife